NEW JERSEY, United States, CMC- Kenwyne Jones scored an equalizer in the second half as Trinidad and Tobago stormed back to hold El Salvador to a two all draw in Group B of their CONCACAF Gold Cup opener on Monday night.
Jones’ 72nd minute conversion blanked out two goals by Salvadoran striker Rodolfo Zelaya that brought his team back into the game after the Soca Warriors took the lead in the 10th minute in a thriller at Red Bull Arena.
Carlos Edwards sent the ball through to an advancing Keon Daniel who won the ball from his marker and slotted it past an outstretched goalkeeper Dagoberto Portillo to give the Soca Warriors the advantage.
Jones almost put Trinidad up 2-0 in the 19th minute but the dreadlocked striker headed a spot-on cross from Edwards over the net. Jones, Daniel, Kevon Carter and Edwards looked a threatening combination in the first 15 minutes before the young El Salvadorians began to settle into the game.
The Soca Warriors’ lead was short-lived as Honduras won a free kick in the 21st minute which Zelaya kicked over the defensive wall into the corner of the nets past a diving Jan Michael Williams in goal.
The Trinidadians were then forced to repel a series of raids from El Salvador led by Rafael Burgos who headed just wide of the goal and struck the post on the next play.
Burgos continued to lead the Salvadorans charge in the second half shooting inches from the goal until their perseverance paid off in the 68th minute when Zelaya headed in a cross from Darwin Ceren.